WATCH: Trump slams ‘ridiculous partisan investigations’ in State of the Union

WASHINGTON — In his first State of the Union address to a divided Congress, President Donald Trump warned Democrats on Tuesday that “ridiculous partisan investigations” could derail the nation’s economic progress.

Trump peppered his speech with calls for bipartisanship, urging Washington to govern “not as two parties, but as one nation.” But his message clashed with the rancorous atmosphere he has helped cultivate in the nation’s capital, as well as the desire of most Democrats to block his path during his next two years in office.

The president’s remarks previewed how he planned to defend himself as Democrats launch a flurry of investigations into his administration and personal finances.

“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation,” he declared.

Podcast special: On Wednesday morning, Feb. 6, join the PBS NewsHour’s Amna Nawaz, Lisa Desjardins, Yamiche Alcindor and Daniel Bush as they share their thoughts on President Donald Trump’s 2019 State Of The Union address. They’ll dig into what really mattered in the speech and the Democratic response; which statements have traction and which are just rhetoric. As always, you can expect smart analysis, useful insights and the kind of conversation you won’t get anywhere else. Find the special episode in our existing podcast feeds, on our website or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.